Boise State kept its grip on the top spot in the Week 10 Pac-12 power rankings, and it did so in the wildest way possible.
The No. 20 Broncos needed backup quarterback Max Cutforth to save them Saturday night, and he answered with three fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 46-45 escape against Texas State. Boise State was cruising with a 28-3 halftime lead before the game spun completely out of control, as the Bobcats poured in 36 straight points and turned The Blue into a full-blown stress test.
The win moved Boise State to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play, good for a one-game cushion over Oregon State in the Pac-12 standings. The Beavers sit at 5-3 and 3-1 after taking their first conference loss last weekend, and the two teams are set to meet Nov. 14 in Boise.
But the Broncos may have paid a steep price for surviving Texas State. The game also brought injuries to several key players, including starter Maddux Madsen and tight end Matt Wagner. Head coach Spencer Danielson is expected to give a player availability update Monday afternoon.
Behind Boise State in the rankings, Fresno State continued to make noise with a 38-22 home win over Oregon State. The Bulldogs leaned on the ground game, running for nearly 200 yards, and they also became the first team to hold Jesse Legree under 100 receiving yards.
Oregon State’s trip to Fresno ended with its first stumble in league play, a sloppy 38-22 loss that knocked the Beavers out of the unbeaten conference conversation for the moment. They’ll try to regroup at home Saturday night against Texas State.
Texas State, meanwhile, left Boise with plenty of offense but no reward after its 46-45 road loss. The Bobcats ripped off 42 second-half points, only to come up just short in a brutal finish. Their next shot comes Saturday at Oregon State.
Utah State also climbed after another strong defensive outing, beating Colorado State 31-14 at home. The Aggies had already held Texas State to 20 points two weeks earlier, and they followed that up with another controlled performance against the Rams. Utah State gets Fresno State next.
San Diego State earned a 26-20 win over Washington State in the rain at Snapdragon Stadium, though the Aztecs were described as fortunate to get out with the victory.
Colorado State’s loss at Utah State prompted a blunt message from Jim Mora. After the game, the Rams coach said “the hammer is coming down” on a roster that is “used to losing.” He also said to expect numerous roster changes for Colorado State in the offseason.
Washington State, after falling 26-20 at San Diego State, got another encouraging note from redshirt freshman quarterback Owen Eshelman, who has been one of the few bright spots in a difficult season.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State May Have Fixed A Problem Oregon State Fans Should Note
Oklahoma States recent red-zone surge is the kind of development Oregon State fans will want to keep an eye on, especially with the Cowboys showing a sharper edge in the part of the field where games are often decided. After a stretch of inconsistency, the offense found the end zone on all four of its red-zone trips in its latest game, a notable step forward for a unit that had been searching for more dependable execution in tight spaces.
Eric Morris pointed to the challenge of calling plays when the margin for error shrinks, while also stressing that the bigger test is doing it again the next week. For Oregon State, the takeaway is simple enough: a team that had been leaking value near the goal line may be starting to clean it up, and that kind of fix can change how an opponent has to defend the entire field. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Is Defending Wyatt Young While Turning His Mistake Into A Message
Wyatt Youngs night against Iowa State had the kind of swing that can stick with a receiver long after the final whistle. After scoring a go-ahead touchdown, he was flagged for a costly penalty, turning a momentum-changing play into a lesson the Beavers could not ignore. Young responded by publicly apologizing, then meeting with his coach and teammates to face the mistake head-on.
Eric Morris and the locker room did not run from the bigger picture, either. They pointed to Youngs competitiveness and intensity as part of what makes him valuable, while also making clear that emotion has to be matched with discipline. For Oregon State, the episode has become less about one penalty than about how a player and a team handle the fallout when a big moment gets away from them. [Read more 🡒]
JaMarcus Shephard Sends Clear Message As Beavers Try To Reset
After a frustrating loss to Fresno State, JaMarcus Shephard spent the week trying to get Oregon State back on track by addressing the details that slipped away from the Beavers. The problems were clear enough: the running game got away from them, ball security became an issue, and too many drives stalled when the offense reached scoring territory. Shephard also pointed to the debut of Adonis McDaniel as one of the few bright spots, a sign that the Beavers may need fresh production as they reset for the stretch ahead.
Texas State is next, and Oregon State will be looking to turn the page in the first meeting between the programs while chasing a sixth win. For Shephard, the message has been less about style points than about urgency and cleaner execution, especially after a game that exposed how quickly small mistakes can snowball. The Beavers still have time to steady themselves, but the margin for error is shrinking. [Read more 🡒]